There are obviously a lot of Christians who are anti-gay. Many of which who give little pause to speaking their opposition, being hurtful, and even abusive with their aversion.

For those of us who are not anti-gay, when we think about such people, one of the questions that paces the halls of our brains is, “What the hell does it matter to you?” Why do you care so much, what’s the big hairy deal? Seriously. Is this homosexuality thing really affecting your life? Is this reality in other people’s lives really any of your business?

I find it interesting the reasons many Christians articulate they are anti-gay. The answers are all over the map. As a gay-affirming, homosexual-loving pastor and blogger, I suspect I’ve just about heard it all.

The classic response is that homosexuality is unbiblical and deemed a sin, therefore it’s ultimately an intolerable offense to God and the scriptures. For them, the sacred tenets of Christianity and the authority of the bible are in the balance. Furthermore, if homosexuals don’t repent of their sin and turn away from their homosexuality, they’re going to hell. Others are concerned about homosexuality causing a breakdown of the traditional family structure, especially when it comes to the issue of gay marriage. Some simply see homosexuality as being abnormal and contrary to the nature as God’s design, having an imploding, negative impact on society. Many harbor fears about the influence homosexuality and homosexuals will have in leading their children astray.

Put it all together, in the minds of many a Christian, the world is going to hell in a hand basket and America is tipping the caldron of God’s wrath. The primary cause? Homosexuality.

I know, for a few anti-gay Christians, they are truly wrestling with this issue, its juxtaposition in their faith, and seeking God’s heart in the process. For that, they should be highly commended. Their struggle and genuine heart should never be belittled.

But for the rest, I’m not buying it. I’m not buying it one bit.

Is there a genuine ignorance out there among anti-gay Christians? Absolutely, but most of it is a chosen ignorance. If I had a dime for the number of Christians who comment negatively on my homosexual-themed articles but have clearly never even read them, Donald Trump would be shining my shoes. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve challenged specific Christians to study-out the homosexuality issue for themselves, reading material from authors on the other side of the fence. Do they ever do it? No. Weeks later, when I follow up, “have you read any of the stuff I suggested?” Their answer… “Nope.”

If biblical faithfulness was really the issue regarding homosexuality for anti-gay Christians, we would see these same believers being be far more concerned with obvious scriptural giants like… truly loving your neighbor, feeding the poor, stewarding a dying planet, adopting orphans, to name a few. Which by the way, if only 3% of the world’s self-professed Christians adopted, there would be no more adoptable children in the world. There are far more clear, incontestable biblical references to those issues than the mere six, highly debatable passages in the Bible that are deemed by anti-gay Christians to reference homosexuality.

But they certainly don’t want to hear that. Why? Because, unlike homosexuality, none of those mandates give them a throne to sit upon or an issue to be against. With nothing to appose or a sin in another to justify their own, many anti-gay Christians would be that awkward, pimple-faced kid at the high school dance standing against the gym wall, not having a clue what to do. It’s interesting to me how the interpretive practices of contextualization and studying word origins have become so important when applying the bible to issues like divorce, gluttony, and women in ministry, but not homosexuality. How convenient. It will be a cold day in hell before we see anti-gay Christians standing outside Golden Corral after Sunday morning preaching with signs reading “God Hates Christian Gluttons”.

This whole, I am anti-gay because the Bible says so… I’m not buying it. I’m not buying it one bit.

“Oh, but we don’t want them to go to hell.” Really? You truly expect me to believe there is a genuine spiritual concern from anti-gay Christians that homosexual people are going to hell? Most of the anti-gay Christians I know don’t give much pause to that notion at all, many even being quite at peace with it. Some, even a bit tickled. Furthermore, if they really did care, would they be beating the crap out of them, labeling them, marginalizing them and making the second class citizens of their church, if citizens at all? Does that sound like the strategy that comes out of the heart of a Christian who truly cares about the eternal salvation of a group of people? I think not.

And don’t give me any of this, “homosexuals are stealing my freedoms as an American” crap. At best, this issue may or may not be challenging some of your religious freedoms, but it surely isn’t challenging your freedoms to be Jesus. Maybe it’s just me, but I have this sense that not only would Jesus bake a gay-wedding cake, He’d multiply it and give it to the couple for free. But let’s not let the ways of Jesus get in the way of our religious pouting.

I’m not buying it, I’m not buying it one bit.

“But this homosexual thing is tearing apart the family structure.” Sure, all while your Southern Baptist denomination has a higher divorce rate than Atheists and you’re on your third marriage, with one eye on the secretary. Oh, I know, your divorce was for Biblical reasons. I am sure your “ex” felt so comforted by that, and experienced so much Jesus in that sentiment. How spiritual of you. It just makes it all so nice and good, like a warm, crackling fire on a cold night.

Bullshit, I’m not buying it, I’m not buying it one bit.

“But what about our kids? They are going to take control of our kids. We’re going to lose are kids to the Death Star tractor-beam of homosexuality.” Lions and tigers and bears, oh my. Nothing says you truly care about the influence in your kid’s life, like forking out the eighty dollars for their Miley Cyrus tickets, letting them watch R-rated movies and vulgar cartoons, spoiling them with blow-out Christmas’s to celebrate the Jesus who ironically was born to give His life away, teaching them they are the center of the universe as you make their every want and extracurricular activity the center of your universe, instilling in them that the Bible is best memorized, prayer is something you fight to do in school, church is a club with a cross on top, and people who don’t believe the way you do are misguided and maybe even the enemy.

I’m not buying it, I’m not buying it one bit.

The truth is, it’s really not about the Bible, it’s really not about a genuine spiritual care, it’s not about God’s design or the influence of homosexuality, it’s about… control.

Control of the content, comfort, familiarity, protection, and future of the elitist, pristine, starch-pressed, Evangelical brand of institutional Christianity and church that you grew up with and likely participate in now. Control of who gets to determine what is sin and what is not, who’s right and who’s wrong. Control of who’s in and who’s out, who’s deemed as truly spiritual and who’s deemed as truly not. Control of who is seen as a positive force for society, who has the corner market on truth, has more political influence, and who does not. Control, of the acceptance and approval of the people in your life. Control, of the self-condemnation your own sin causes by the clamping down and determining of sin in another’s life.

Control, control, control.

Isn’t that what religion has alway been about… control? Sadly, much of Christianity has become far more about religion than it is about Jesus.

I’m not buying it. I’m not buying it one bit.

Homosexuality. What the hell does is matter to you?

I’m calling out your bluff.

Say what you want, put all the lipstick you can on that pig.

It’s not a biblical care, a people care, a family care, a societal care…

21 Comments

Wow chris after reading this it has left me speachless. just amazing my brother thank you so so much for writing this i have some friends who this is going to mean so much to. you have no ideal what a blessing this is for them thank you very very much for taking the time to write it 🙂 love ya

I’ve been reading this extremely interesting as well as timely blog for a few weeks now, and feel so utterly blessed for somehow “happening” on it by sheer chance (maybe “guidance” is a more accurate word-choice…)

Chris, thank you for standing up and allowing your voice to be heard as a gay-loving pastor. The GLBT community really need voices such as yours to be heard loud and clear amongst a broader fundamentalistic inclined Christian audience. People like you give GLBT followers of Jesus of Nazareth much hope for the future – and I’m one of them 🙂

I so much am in agreement with your conclusion of it all boiling down to a CONTROL issue. Do know that I’m appreciative of this ever so cool blog, and that I’m rooting for you!

Amen Arno we need to help spred Chris post they are a light the world needs so bad im so sick of fake Christains with all there anti gay hate and wishing harm on gays. We need to take a stand and to fight for our voice to be heard my brother god bless you and yours and i wish you nothing but the best 😀

Thank you for writing this. You are exactly right and there is no reasoning whatsoever with those types of “Christians”…so sad. The only thing that might open their eyes is if they were to have an LGBTQ child, but that is a scary scenario for the child.

I agree that a lot of Christians are disproportionately against the sin of practicing homosexuality than other sins which the scriptures talk about. They don’t have homosexual tendencies in their flesh so it is so easy to “judge” others that do. This is self-righteousness. This is classic law-based teaching which is grace-less!

It is only the grace of God through the finished work of our Lord Jesus that brings His righteousness to us. If we speak to who we are in Christ – in our real identity in our inner person, this enables us “to be” who we really are as we see ourselves in Christ.

It is only the grace of God that teaches us how to live in this world according to our true nature as new creations in Christ.

To tell someone to stop whatever it is that they are doing because it is against what the scriptures say is mis-leading and powerless to help people. Those that are strong willed can stop some things for a while or at best hide things but it is really a “flesh trip”. The law enflames people to sin! That’s was one of it’s purposes but it has no power to help people! Only belief in the finished work of Christ brings life and freedom to us. It’s called grace!

The Father says to all practicing gays and everyone else in the world – unbelieving ones, and fearful people, religious zealots, those that hate others because they are different, pedophiles, murderers, liars, the self-righteous, everyone, come to Jesus! Your sins have been forgiven. You are loved unconditionally. I don’t condemn you. Jesus has finished all that is needed to make us whole! Come and receive the abundance of grace and the gift of His righteousness and you will reign in this life!

To point out that practicing homosexuality is a worse sin then gluttony or slander or anything else that hurts us is un-Christian as it is against our true nature. It is not our behavior whether past or present that defines us but who we are in Christ now as new creations!

There is so much malice ( which is ill-will toward others ) against practicing gays. Where is the love of God being displayed toward them? Where is the life of God being displayed?

Paul in his letters always talks about who the believer is in Christ first. Then he goes on to give descriptions of how this life looks like – which a lot of people take as commandments for us to keep in our own self-effort. This is a “flesh trip”.

Let us preach the grace of God to all people, especially to ourselves as Christians. Let us extend that grace to others also! Grace that comes with the understanding of the gospel of Jesus will take care of our behavior.

Right believing leads to right “being” ( which is to have Christ formed outwardly in us ) Gal 4:19 – this “being” who we truly are leads to right doing.

Legalists look at the behavior but God always deals with us according to who we are now in Christ. Legalists say “Do not sin and we will not condemn you.” Jesus says ” I don’t condemn you.” Knowing this empowers us to walk in the rest of His words – ” now go and sin no more. ”

Lets love in sincerity and in truth to all our brothers and sisters in the Lord no matter what area they struggle in and all the rest of the world as well! Let’s encourage them and tell them the real gospel, the “nearly too good to be true news”.

The true Christian life is a journey of one step after another into a territory of astonishment and amazement. If we are not astonished at the Gospel – then we do not have the revelation of Jesus yet!

Sorry for my rant. I just hate religion! The christian religion is the number one enemy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Strange that throughout this whole discourse there was little use of actual scripture on the subject.
I must disagree!
Grace and Love notwithstanding, the Bible, especially these highly pertinent verses.
Are you making God a liar.
Yes of course we are to extend love and mercy to those in bondage and lead then to the truth, but never, never are we to condone behaviour contrary to His Word!

“For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Ro 1:26‭-‬32 NKJVhttp://bible.com/114/rom.1.26-32.NKJV

Refuting God’s word or watering down the meaning does NOT do Him honour, nor does it bring sinners to repentance.
STOP making ungodly excuses for blatant scriptural sin. It is Satan’s subtle twisting that you are falling for.

Having actually read the Bible, I do believe,when asked what is the most important of the commandments, Christ says Love the Lord thy God with all they mind,heart and soul, AND the second is just as important, Love thy neighbor as thyself. No where does he say, unless your neighbor is gay. My feeling is God loves us all. And the only thing that bothers me about that, is that I think he should love bigots and evil-doers a little less.

Well.. Chris! Where did you come from.. I know, literally, but really! I have been a struggling god seeking lesbian all my life!! You sir have brought a light to my house again! I grew up in the 80 and 90s. I had a devoted mother of Christianity and went to church every Wednesday and Sunday. I listened and studied and “soaked” it alll up. Home life was a huge struggle. Very abusive, mentally and physically. . but those things are to stay in the four walls i lived in, which i was told! Lol YEAH right. This girl was a fighter! I sought after relief and peace all my childhood amd teen years with “Why”. Why doesn’t the church see wjats going on, Why doesn’t the people understand my pain and my mothers! “God Why” that was me as a child growing up. Then I was hit with the fact i really do like girls, like girls like boys.

Of course “why god” why”… Only to fuel the fire of abuse at home, but to feel shame and unworthy in the world, ugh it was sooo TOUGH!!

God pointed me in directions i couldn’t understand but later did. “He only gives us what we can bear” “he wants us to live a happy life” “he will follow with me in the darkest valleys” “he loves me NO MATTER what””treat others as you would treat yourself” “above all respect your elders””only you can make you happy, no one else can do that for you”
BUT I would say WHy am I gay?
And he would point all those quoted words right back at me! So I dug deeper and deeper..
Then I walked away. My spirit was crushed by so many christian people, i couldn’t bear to feel that pain again!
I knew they are wrong i felt it. God was working on me! Still is working on me.

But where did you come from. You speak words that I have thought. A passion in me has awakened. Today at this hour.
Im touched. Im not the best grammer writing person. English was my worst subject in school. Lol
But I love to read.

Heather, so glad we have connected through this article. There is great hope, and God’s Grace is real! Thanks so much for sharing a bit of your story, I sure hope we can stay connected. facebook.com/chris.kratzer

Have y’all forgotten these scriptures?
Of course we are to extend grace and love to all, but to water down God’s word and make EXCUSES for errant behaviour does God a great disservice and does nothing to lead those in bondage to this heinous sin to repentance and deliverance.
If you can’t swallow and preach ALL of the council of God, you are preaching a FALSE GOSPEL. It’s just that simple!
Once you open the door to the rationalization of sin, the devil will creep in create untold misery.
A little leaven leavens the whole loaf. DO NOT BE DECEIVED! The devil is a better theologian than any of us and to display acceptance of this ‘lifestyle’ without preaching it’s consequences is heresy. The argument that it’s no worse than any other sin is a completely moot point.
And don’t you DARE call me a ‘religious’ Christian! God loves all His creation, but has a particular hatred for the perversion of his human creation. It is an abomination to Him. MAKE NO MISTAKE!
A worldly Christian is an ineffectual one, and the sin of homosexuality is a the root of the destruction of society and the moral laws of the Almighty. To day “What the hell does it matter?” is a shirking of our responsibilities as believers.
——————————————————-
ROM. 1: 26-32….
“For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, PROUD, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous JUDGEMENT of God, that those who practice such things are DESERVING OF DEATH, not only do the same but also APPROVE of those who practice them.
Ro 1:26‭-‬32 NKJVhttp://bible.com/114/rom.1.26-32.NKJV

While I’m at it.
The scripture “Judge not lest you be judged” is too often quoted out of context. It pertains solely to hypocrisy! Read the entire passage.
It another of Satan’s subtle twists to absolve us from our duty to call out those who cause division or strife within the body of Christ.

God is in control , we must say Thy will be done and do it . Have you not read about God’s attribute WRATH . We must so fear and love God . Pastor , I believe you are a Johnny come lately . God speaks more about his wrath and he has not changed . HE IS IN CONTROL not any man . Read Ezekiel 13:22 -all verions(sp) until it sinks in , I don’t know you but because you say you love God (I’m powerless over you)

I don’t think you understand what God’s WRATH actually is. His WRATH is the opposite of His LOVE. His LOVE keeps us from getting into trouble, finding ourselves slowing leaving His influence and guidance behind while we pursue our own sinful desires. His WRATH is when He finally gives us up to our sinful desires, and then we reap the destruction we deserve. God doesn’t smite us – we smite ourselves.

Read Romans 1. It’s all there, and quite clear for those who seek discernment.